Husband celebrates 13 years of receiving a kidney from his wife

by Johana Mukandila

A cheerful husband celebrates his 13th anniversary of receiving a donated kidney from his courageous wife.

A man by the name of Eric Douglin was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2004 and needed a kidney transplant. His wife, Mandi, stepped in without any hesitation.

Eric had undergone a successful operation in January 2010, and this year he gratefully commemorated his 13th anniversary of receiving the life-saving kidney from his “brave wife,” as he calls her, showing appreciation for his wife.

According to Kidney research UK Eric had sought out medication and therapies for many years to try and manage his condition. Until March 2008 where his consultant told him that he needed a life-saving transplant. 

As a result of this transplant (Sclerosis of the kidney) Eric was advised the condition could be congenital and pass to his children, so none of his four children were able to become donors, the publication reported. 

He told the publication that his wife had no hesitation saying: 

He said: “When I asked Mandi why she wanted to donate her kidney to me, her response was: ‘Well, anyone would do it, wouldn’t they? I have two kidneys, you need one, so it’s an easy decision. Your children and grandchildren need you in their life, as do I.”

“The fact that Mandi is white, and I am black was more remarkable insofar that we were almost a perfect match, and to date there have been no complications or issues to speak of. Mandi and I were married in June 2011 at a very emotional service full of tears and smiles, attended by my very grateful and appreciative family,” Eric told the publication.  

And now Eric uses his story to raise awareness of organ donation as a way of giving something back. He and his wife also became advocates for Kidney Research UK, speaking at events, promoting the need for organ donors, funding, and awareness of life post-transplant, Kidneyresearchuk reported.

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